Roku Ready TVs, 110-inch 4K Ultra HD: Is Westinghouse Back?

Can it get any stranger? Westinghouse Roku Ready displays debut at CES 2013

By Joe Whitaker, January 04, 2013

I just talked to Westinghouse about its new line of 4K Ultra HD displays – up to 110 inches – and was surprised to learn that this long-forgotten TV brand is launching a line of Roku Ready displays at CES 2013.

Where did that come from. The brand best known for kitchen appliances and cheap little TVs is now leading the charge in TV technology?

Earlier this year we heard about the new Roku Streaming Stick providing all the Roku streaming goodness in a simple-to-add stick for “supported devices.”

Westinghouse will launch several such “supported devices” in a new line of “Roku Ready” displays debuting at CES (following in the footsteps of Hitachi).

This “Future Proofing” technology – their term, not mine— allows users to simply slip the Roku stick into the slot for instant Roku access on the home network. The entire slate of features is immediately available, with navigation via the Westinghouse remote.

What is an A/V professional to make of this development from such an unheralded TV brand?

And what should we think in general of the Roku Streaming Stick? This could be turned into a great selling and profit point. Clearly you won’t make money on the Roku stick, but maybe there is profit potential for compliant displays and devices – not to mention your networking expertise?

We have all been waiting for easy-to-implement services such as Roku, without the need for new boxes. Now we have it.

Or should we fear the value-added TV brands making great claims about display sizes and feature sets?

From the custom installation side, I am wondering: Roku has had IP control available for some time (I use the Extra Vegetables driver for Control4). Will support like that be available for the display as well? Can I turn this into an all-IP solution for both control and connectivity?

About the Author

With more than a decade of experience in home systems installation and product development, Joe Whitaker currently is principal of the integration firm JW Designs. He was elected to the CEDIA board of directors in 2013 and is a frequent contributor to CE Pro magazine.

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Comments
(displayed in order by date/time)

Posted by Chris W on 01/04 at 01:01 PM

Maybe Control4 will build a certified ip driver (with issues) for it that will be released to the dealer base

Posted by Joe Whitaker on 01/04 at 01:09 PM

Lol Thanks Chris! So maybe I should just write the driver and let Westinghouse give it away so we don’t have that problem!

Posted by Jeff Z. on 01/04 at 01:38 PM

Only time will tell, but remember that LG was once known as Gold Star.

Posted by Dan C - Audioplus on 01/04 at 01:40 PM

Are you kidding me? They couldn’t even design a OEM manufactured plasma that could be conventionally wall mounted without adding spacers to one side of the back of the unit!
They should stick with appliances.

Posted by Chris W on 01/04 at 01:40 PM

Hey, theres a novel idea! Have a good time in Vegas Joe. No more CES’s for me. An industry that has left all too much of a bad taste in my mouth. Part my fault for treating it as a passion instead of a business, part customers fault for not respecting the product and servies I provided, part vendors fault for not even giving me the opportunity to defend myself. Hasta La Vista Baby!

Posted by Nick on 01/04 at 02:10 PM

Unless Westinghouse reinvents itself like Lucky/Goldstar morphing into LG I don’t think installers will take them seriously. Plus have you seen the returns showing up at Costco/Target/BestBuy? Westinghouse and Visio dominate the return lines. I think part of the problem lies with the consumer thinking that they can get a quality product from a third tier producer.

Posted by Jack W on 01/04 at 02:22 PM

Westinghouse (the quality brand your parents knew) has not made a TV since the late 60’s. It currently is a rented brand from Viacom to a far east company. Do yourself a favor and do not trust the Circle-Bar-W.

Posted by Frank I on 01/04 at 02:35 PM

These are the same guys that were clamering to get in the doors of Best Buy????
Seems to me that installers should stick with the lines that help to keep the CEDIA channel alive albetit faintly!

Posted by Julie Jacobson on 01/04 at 03:16 PM

Hey, LG did it! Who knows?

Posted by Joe Whitaker on 01/04 at 03:18 PM

I am going to see it myself and put Westinghouse on the hot seat!

Posted by Andy on 01/04 at 03:59 PM

Lots of skepticism here about the big “W”. I am not defending them at all. The name on the badge does not mean much to me anymore as I have seen some of the more “trusted” brands put out some real sketchy products, especially in the last several years. Race to the bottom much? As for the Westy Ro4KuTV (is that what they are calling it?), if it works, awesome! If it does not, no one will be surprised.